Pillow and method of building a pillow

ABSTRACT

A pillow cover and method of building a pillow. The pillow cover includes a body and a plurality of optional appendages and accessories. The body includes a first side and a second side secured together and an opening on one of the first side and the second side, the opening adapted to receive a pillow. The appendages are interchangeable and connectable to the body.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional application and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/701,921, filed on Jul. 22, 2005. The contents of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/701,921 are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Pillows are most commonly used for supporting the head of a user in a reclined, supine, or prone position. For example, pillows can be used when a person is lying on his or her side, back or front.

SUMMARY

Children have enjoyed stuffed animals for decades. Children occasionally become attached to a certain stuffed animal, which becomes a source of comfort or a “security blanket.” As such, the stuffed animal is with the child at all times The child plays with and sleeps with the stuffed animal. The stuffed animal can even make the child feel safe.

Pillows can become more enjoyable if they can be associated with characters that children can relate to. The characters that children associate with are found on television, books, in the form of stuffed animals, and other toys. A pillow incorporating the likeness of a character can become the stuffed animal and be a source of comfort for the child. Thus, it is desirable to incorporate the likenesses of a popular character into a pillow.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a pillow cover comprising a body, a plurality of appendages connectable to the body, and an accessory connectable to one of the appendages.

In another embodiment the invention provides a pillow cover comprising a body including a first side and a second side secured together, an opening on one of the first side and the second side, the opening adapted to receive a pillow, and a plurality of interchangeable appendages connectable to the body.

In another embodiment the invention provides a method of building a pillow. The method comprises the acts of selecting a body, inserting a pillow into the body, attaching at least one appendage to the body, and attaching at least one accessory to at least one appendage.

Other independent aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pillow case according to one embodiment of the invention and illustrating a pillow being inserted in the pillow case.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pillow case with the pillow inserted therein.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pillow case with the pillow inserted therein.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pillow case with the pillow inserted therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings, respectively.

FIG. I illustrates a pillow case or cover 10 according to one embodiment of the invention. The pillow case 10 includes a body 14, which is generally rectangular-shaped, but can also be in the form of other shapes or can be an irregular shape. The body 14 includes a top side 18 upon which a user's head can rest and a bottom side 22 substantially facing a support surface upon which the pillow case 10 can rest. The body 14 can be constructed of a single integral piece of material, or can be constructed of two or more pieces of material coupled together by adhesive or cohesive bonding material, stitching, tape, hook-and-loop fastener material, or in another manner.

The body 14 can include many different types of materials including, without limitation, nylon, polyester, natural or synthetic rubber, cotton, wool, and a combination thereof. Generally, it is preferred that the material be washable in water. Still other types of materials may be used.

The body 14 includes an opening 26 adapted to receive a pillow 30 to support the head of a user in a reclined, supine, or prone position, and can also support at least a portion of the neck of a user in some applications. The opening 26 can be on the bottom side 22 of the body 14, on a side (the seam where the top side 18 and bottom side 22 join), or any other suitable location. The pillow 30 can be secured in the opening 26 with a zipper, buttons, hook-and-loop fastener, or other fasteners. It is noted that the pillow 30 can be secured in the pillow case 10 without fasteners. The pillow case 10 and opening 26 are adapted to receive any size pillow 30.

In some embodiments, the body 14 can include a plurality of appendages 34, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. The appendages 34 can be integral with or removable from the body 14. The appendages 34 can include many different types of materials, including without limitation nylon, polyester, natural or synthetic rubber, cotton, wool, and a combination thereof. Still other types of materials are possible, and fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The appendages 34 can be the same as or different than the material of the body 14.

The appendages 34 can include stuffing of any material to make the appendages three-dimensional. The appendages 34, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, can make up the head, feet, and tail of the body 14. Other appendages 34 are also within the scope of the present invention. The appendages 34 can be removable and interchangeable with other appendages 34. For example, the body 14 and the appendages 34 can include interlocking mechanisms, such as, snaps, hook-and-loop fastener material, buttons or other mechanisms, such that the body 14 can support the appendages 34.

The appendages 34 can be adapted to receive an accessory 38 such as sunglasses, glasses, hats, shoes, socks, ribbons, bowties, scarves, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, watches, headphones, nametags, collars, and other unique attachments or clothing items. One of the accessories 38 can include a tag made from a washable material. The child can write on the tag to customize it to his or her personal desire. For example, the child can write his or her name on the tag or the name of the character pillow. The name could be changed by washing the tag in a washing machine.

FIGS. 2-4 each illustrate a plurality of appendages 34 attached to the body 14. FIG. 2 illustrates that the appendages 34 are in the form of a head and a plurality of feet. FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate that the appendages 34 are in the form of a head, a tail, and a plurality of feet. FIGS. 2-4 illustrate that the appendages 34 in each figure correspond or match with one another.

The pillow case 10 can be modified by interchanging the appendages 34 and/or accessories 38. Since the appendages 34 can be removable from the body 14, the feet do not have to match, the head does not have to match with the feet, and numerous combinations can be arranged. Children can change the look of the pillow case 10 as desired.

The body 14 can be any color and can be purchased separately from the appendages 34 and accessories 38. The user can select the appendages 34 and accessories 38 as desired to “build” a pillow case 10. In alternative embodiments, the body 14 and appendages 34 are purchased as a set and the accessories 38 can be purchased separately. Additional appendages 34 can be purchased and interchanged with the appendages 34 that came with the body 14.

The body 14 and its associated appendages 34 can be in the form of a popular character that children recognize. The body 14 of one character can have a different size and shape as a second character. Likewise, the appendages 34 associated with one character can have a different size and shape as a second character's appendages 34.

The embodiments described above and illustrated in the figures are presented by way of example only and are not intended as a limitation upon the concepts and principles of the present invention. As such, it will be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art that various changes in the elements and their configuration and arrangement are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims. 

1. A pillow cover comprising: a body; a plurality of appendages connectable to the body; and an accessory connectable to one of the appendages.
 2. The pillow cover of claim 1, wherein the pillow cover including the appendages embodies a character.
 3. The pillow cover of claim 1, wherein the plurality of appendages includes one of a head, a foot, an arm, and a tail.
 4. The pillow cover of claim 1, wherein at least one of the appendages is integral with the body.
 5. The pillow cover of claim 4, wherein the plurality of appendages includes one of a head, a foot, an arm, and a tail.
 6. The pillow cover of claim 1, wherein the body includes an opening.
 7. The pillow cover of claim 6, wherein a pillow is inserted into the body through the opening.
 8. The pillow cover of claim 1, wherein the body includes a first side and a second side, and wherein the first side and the second side are secured together.
 9. The pillow cover of claim 8, wherein the first side and the second side are secured together with a fastener.
 10. The pillow cover of claim 1, wherein the pillow cover includes materials capable of being washed.
 11. A pillow cover comprising: a body including a first side and a second side secured together; an opening on one of the first side and the second side, the opening adapted to receive a pillow; and a plurality of interchangeable appendages connectable to the body.
 12. The pillow cover of claim 11, wherein the pillow cover including the appendages embodies a character.
 13. The pillow cover of claim 11, wherein the plurality of appendages includes one of a head, a foot, an arm, and a tail.
 14. The pillow cover of claim 11, wherein at least one of the appendages is integral with the body.
 15. The pillow cover of claim 14, wherein the plurality of appendages includes one of a head, a foot, an arm, and a tail.
 16. The pillow cover of claim 11, wherein the first side and the second side are secured together with a fastener.
 17. The pillow cover of claim 11, wherein the pillow cover includes materials capable of being washed.
 18. A method of building a pillow, the method comprising: selecting a body; inserting a pillow into the body; attaching at least one appendage to the body; and attaching at least one accessory to at least one appendage.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the act of attaching at least one appendage to the body includes the act of selecting the appendage from one of a head, a foot, an arm, and a tail.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the act of inserting a pillow into the body includes the act of inserting the pillow through an opening on one of a first side and a second side of the body. 